Medi-Cal program to expand into Lake County

LAKE COUNTY -- Partnership HealthPlan of California (PHC) will expand its Medi-Cal managed care program into Lake County June 1.

PHC, a nonprofit Medi-Cal health plan, will now coordinate benefits for nearly 223,000 Medi-Cal beneficiaries in seven counties, offering enrolled members a medical home, coordination of care and supplemental benefits not covered by the state's traditional Medi-Cal program.

"This is the culmination of several years of planning and work to improve access to quality health care for the community's lowest-income residents," Jack Horn, CEO of PHC, said. "With this expansion, Medi-Cal recipients in Lake County will now have access to a primary care physician, better access to specialty care, and access to health plan staff dedicated to providing quality assistance and care to all of our members."

The roughly 17,000 Medi-Cal beneficiaries in Lake County will have access to a member services call center to learn more about their benefits, select a physician and have their complaints addressed.

PHC and county representatives have conducted regular public meetings since 2011 as a part of the planning and expansion process.

PHC's goal is to expand upon the existing number of medical providers willing to see Medi-Cal patients and to support the delivery of more care so that, when possible, residents do not need to leave their communities to seek care.

A small number of Medi-Cal recipients will remain in the state's traditional program and can continue to see medical providers who accept Medi-Cal for payment. However, those Medi-Cal members who are enrolled in PHC will have access to substance abuse benefits and other benefits, such as audiology services and podiatry services for diabetics.

Lake County members will be represented on the PHC Governing Board, which includes representatives from the member and provider communities appointed by each county's Board of Supervisors. Lake County members are also represented on a number of advisory committees that bring together PHC members and medical providers from various counties and programs to discuss ways PHC can improve.

Medi-Cal, nationally known as Medicaid, is a state and federal program that provides health care to more than 7 million low-income residents in California.

While there will be no change in benefits as a result of this switch to managed care, it's important to note that Medi-Cal recipients must choose a primary care provider for their health care under the new system. For assistance with that choice, Medi-Cal members can call PHC at 800-863-4155 or visit www.partnershiphp.org.